Vehicle-body support.



B. (LSEATON.

VEHICLE BODY SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15. I916. RENEWED mac. 5. m7.

- 1,275,097. Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

amen Wow fieizjam in dfleaton anew,

BENJAMIN c. SEATON, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

VEHICLE-BODY surron'r;

' Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 6,1918.

Application filed. April 15, 1916, Serial No. 91,365. Renewed December 5, 1917. Serial No. 205,665.

struction of which will enable the ordinary elliptical or partial elliptical springs now interposed between the axle and the body to be eliminated, the construction hereinafter particularly described providing for theindependent movement of the wheels in relation to the body, whereby a wheel upon meet ing an obstruction ordropping into a depression in the road bed will not affect the other wheels and will also have little or no effect upon the body of the vehicle.

A further object inview is to so arrange the body supporting mechanism of this invention that the tendency to twist the body of the vehicle will be practically eliminated thus increasing the life and durability of the body of the machine as well as therunning gear and all parts of the machine. Additionally, the cost of the production and the expense of maintenance of the machine will be materially reduced.

With the above and other objects in View,

the invention consists in the novel construc tion, combination and arrangement of parts,-

as herein described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a suflicient portion of a motor vehicle to illustrate the present invention in its applied relation thereto. i

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates one of the axles of the vehicle, it being understood that the invention hereinafter described is applied to both the front and rear axles of the machine which are held at a certain distance from each other by the usual connections (not shown). In the drawings,

the invention is illustrated only in connec-' tion with the front axle of the machine, 2 designating the steering wheels, 3 the steering knuckles and 4 the side frame barsupon which the body of the machine is ordinarily mounted and supported.

In carrying out the present invention, I

.vers are pivotally connected at the points 6 employ in connection with each axle a pair of body supporting members 5 each of which is shown in the form of a lever. These leto the axle 1 and extend transversely of the machine. Each lever is provided at the free end thereof with an upstanding body elevating portion or arm 7 which is connected by a link 8 to the adjacent frame bar 4.

It will be noted that each lever has a jointed connection at one end with one of the frame bars a while the pivot point 6 of the same lever is located about inline with the opposite side of the'body. Thus the lever which is pivotallyconnected to the axle at one side of the machine supports the opposite side of the body or frame at theother side of the machine. I

Each of the levers or body supporting members 5 is provided with a cushion compressing arm 9 and at a point in spaced relation thereto there is an abutment-l0 bearing a fixed relation to the axle l, the abutment 10 being shown as formed with an attaching portion 11 which is fastened to the axle at 12. Between the compressing arm 9 and the abutment 10 there is interposed one or more cushions 13 each of which is shown in the'form of a coiled spring the opposite extremities of which are held in place by studs lt and 15 projecting toward each other from the arm 9 and the abutment 10, respectively. In Fig. 2 of the drawings two of said cushions 13 are illustrated, arranged at opposite sides of the vertical center of the axle l. The drawings also illustrate the levers 5 as being located at opposite sides of the axle which arrangement is not, however,

cordance with the scope of the appended claims. It will be understood that the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is used. in connection with both the frontand rear axles of the vehicle so that in a complete Vehicle four of thebody supporting members essential and may therefore be varied in acwhich is yieldingly supported at four points, by resilient means having no direct connection between the axle and the body or body supporting frame of the machine. This does away with any twisting action of the vehicle body, materially reduces the shocks and strains on the machine as a whole, results in greater tiremileage and adds greatly to the comfort of the occupants of the vehicle owing' to the easy running and smooth gliding properties of the machine.

' I laim:

- 1 The combination with the frame and axle of a vehicle, of body-supporting levers extending transversely under the vehicle frame each having a jointed connection at one end with the frame atone side of the latter and pivotally supported at its other end'by the axle at the opposite side of the frame, and compressible cushioning means for said levers, each of said levers having adjacent to its point of attachment to the axle a compression arm which cooperates with the respective cushion.

2. The combination with the frame and axle of a vehicle, of body-supporting levers extending transversely under the vehicle frame each having a jointed connection at one end with the frame at one side of the latter and pivotally supported at its other end by the axle at the opposite side of the frame, each of said levers having adjacent to its point of attachmentto the axle a cushion compressing arm, a cushion abutment for each lever fast on the axle between said compressing arm and the adjacent wheel, and a compressible cushion for each lever interposed between the compressing arm thereof and the respective abutment.

3. The combination with the frame and axle of a vehicle, of body-supporting levers said levers acting independently of the other. 7

4,. The combination with the frame and axle of a vehicle, of body-supporting levers extending transversely under the vehicle frame each having a jointed connection at one end with the frame at one side of the latter and pivotally supported at its other end by the axle at the opposite side of the frame, each of said levers having adjacent to its point of attachment to. the axle a cushion compressing arm, a cushion abutmentfor each lever fast on the axle between said compressing arm and the adjacent wheel, and a compression spring for each lever interposed between the compressing arm thereof and the respective abutment.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

BENJAMIN C. SEATON.

Qopiea of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing tlie Commissioner of gl'atente, Washington, D. G. 

